Forty-eight years have passed since the black summer of 1974 when Turkey invaded our country, spreading death and destruction. Thousands of missing persons, dead and refugees. Forty-eight years and hundreds of families in Cyprus and Greece are still searching for answers and experiencing daily the agony of anxiety and uncertainty about the fate of their loved ones.
On these holy days, the pain of relatives waiting for answers becomes even heavier and more unbearable. It is an inhuman and unacceptable situation that runs counter to the principles and values of a united Europe and civilised humanity in general. The situation that has developed and is causing so much pain and anguish every day to the families of our missing persons cannot and must not be allowed to continue. Civilised humanity, the United Nations and the European Union also have a moral obligation to take effective humanitarian initiatives to overcome the Turkish denial in order to put an end to the suffering experienced daily by the families of our missing persons. The families of our missing persons expect and demand to receive the same and equal treatment as the families of missing persons in other parts of the world receive from the international community. It is accepted by all that the universality of human rights is nullified by their selective application based on political considerations and criteria.
Friends,
In a few days, Christians everywhere will celebrate the birth of the God-Man. A day of joy and hope for peace and brotherhood with messages that are timeless and universal.
The decoration of the Christmas tree of the missing persons symbolizes your support and solidarity with the tragedy experienced daily by the relatives of our missing persons and expresses sincere feelings of love and solidarity with the families who are suffering. On behalf of the President of the Republic Mr. Nicos Anastasiades, the state and all of us, I express our unconditional and sincere support to the families of our missing persons and to all of you with the assurance that we continue together the sacred struggle for the restoration and respect of the human rights of our last missing person and his family.
I warmly congratulate the President and members of NEPOMAK UK, as well as the National Cyprus Federation UK, for their initiative. I also extend our sincere thanks to all our expatriates for their enduring support.
I wish a Merry Christmas to all and especially to the expatriate Hellenism. May the New Year 2023 be a year of liberation and reunification of our homeland, but also of finding out the fate of our last missing person.
(IK)
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